Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Collin Ross said the draft Community Food Strategy and Action Plan provides strategic direction and actions to help create a healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair local food system for all residents.

“The draft strategy identifies the issues facing our municipality and sets out a plan for how we can work together to ensure future generations have access to fresh, healthy and affordable food,” he said.

Key strategies in the draft plan include:

protecting and using fertile land to grow fresh food for current and future generations

growing a vibrant local food economy which supports growers and allows people to access locally produced food

improving food knowledge, skills and culture within schools, workplaces, clubs and the wider community

reducing and diverting food waste from landfill and reusing water to grow food

building capacity across the community to lead, participate in and support food system work.

Council partnered with the Cardinia Food Movement to create the draft strategy after doing extensive community engagement and consultation over the past two years.

“I encourage everyone to give us their feedback on the plan, which will be an important tool for enhancing the health of our people, communities, environment and our local economy,” said Cr Ross.